How to protect the electric grid

Protecting the nation's electric grid is just one more major issue on Congress' very crowded plate. And it will take plenty of technology to keep it safe in the event of a terror attack.

Congress should pass measures to protect the nation's electric grid against electromagnetic pulses emitted after a nuclear blast, witnesses told a hearing on Tuesday. William Graham, chairman of the Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States From Electromagnetic Pulse, testified before the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity and Science and Technology that some people are ignoring the vulnerability of the grid. Graham recommended that Congress deal with the threat of a cyberattack against the electric grid and not dismiss the issue.

But critics said the legislation under consideration would not encourage the operators of electrical facilities to increase cybersecurity protection. They added that legislation needs to reach farther to deal with issues such as transportation and water. Nevetheless, every government IT executive knows that without electricity, their systems would not work. And it is essential to make sure there are backup electrical systems and generators at every critical point.

Until Congress figures out a way to increase protections against the grid, it's up to those guarding computer systems to make sure an electric blackout will not bring essential operations down.

For more on protecting the grid:
- check out this nextgov.com article